VISTA STOLEN LOG IN PASSWORD

[tanuxaxa]

Hello everyone! I just picked up my laptop from Bestbuy. It was taken
care of because of outside spill damage. It was not nesessary to log
in in my computer during repairing process so I didn`t provide my
account password. So, right after I picked it up I log in an BAM! here
is no password on my account!

How could Bestbuy guys do it???? My account was password protected in
a safe mode as well and it is the only account on my computer. If they
could do it everyone else can!

How can I protect my personal data for 100%???

 

[Ronnie Vernon MVP]

Did you originally buy that computer from Best Buy?

If so, it's possible that they have recovery options that will allow their
tech support to log in if a user forgets their password. You really need to
contact them and ask about this.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

It is easy for someone with unrestricted access to the computer to
bypass the password.
Do NOT count on the password to protect your data.
This is not just a limitation of Windows but every operating system
from every source.

"How can I protect..."
"...everyone else can!"
Very true, everyone else can and very easily.
If it is that important to you, the hard drive should not leave your
possession.

Also see:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/archive/community/columns/security/essays/10imlaws.mspx?mfr=true
Particularly Law 3.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Hello everyone! I just picked up my laptop from Bestbuy. It was taken
care of because of outside spill damage. It was not nesessary to log
in in my computer during repairing process so I didn`t provide my
account password. So, right after I picked it up I log in an BAM! here
is no password on my account!

How could Bestbuy guys do it???? My account was password protected in
a safe mode as well and it is the only account on my computer. If they
could do it everyone else can!

How can I protect my personal data for 100%???

Without physical security, there is NO security. Linux-based password
cracking utilities abound on the Internet, freely available to anyone
who can use Google, much less an expert.

(And I guess I'll have to revise my estimation of the capabilities of at
least some of Best Buy's employess; I really wouldn't have expected them
to have the requisite ability.)


--

Bruce Chambers

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